The suspension comes after Knowsley Council removed the 'street knowledge' test and there was a spike in applications

The issuing of new taxi licences in Knowsley as the council struggles to cope with a deluge of applications.

The move follows changes to the licensing process which some critics say have made it too easy to for people to qualify to drive a taxi - specifically removal of the ‘street knowledge’ section of the application.

Also it is no longer a requirement for a Hackney cab or private hire driver to live in the area where the licence is issued.

Taxi drivers in Merseyside have been speaking out over the issue claiming would-be drivers are ‘scamming’ Knowsley Council by going into the borough applying for a licence and then going to Manchester or Liverpool to ‘work for Uber’ because they don’t have to have ‘ street knowledge to get a licence in the borough.

Now Knowsley Council licensing bosses say they “intend to look into the reasons for the increased numbers, which may include a review of existing policies to ensure that they remain robust and fit for purpose”.

A statement on the authority’s website said: “The current rate of applications is not sustainable as the council’s licensing service simply has not currently got the resources to manage and regulate the increasing level of drivers, particularly if some of these drivers have no intention of operating within in the Knowsley area.”

For a taxi licence in Knowsley applicants must pay £49, show you ”are a fit a proper person’, pass a DBS and DVLA check, a medical and have been driving for 12 months.

Once you pass the checks applicants must complete the Level 2 Certificate in the ‘Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver’ (QCF), which doesn’t include a ‘street knowledge’ test, before you are licensed to drive and take a driver skills assessment with council officers.

The temporary suspension is expected to last ‘no longer than 14 days’ and the council said “they would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause but it is felt that this is a necessary measure at this time”.

A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: “The volume of taxi licensing applications received has significantly increased recently.

"In December 2016, we received twice as many applications as we would normally expect and we are not resourced to process and regulate this many applications.

"As a result, we are reviewing our processes and the reasons for the increase in applications. This is anticipated to take a few weeks and whilst this review is being undertaken, we have introduced a temporary suspension of any new licenses being processed.”

The issuing of new taxi licences in Knowsley as the council struggles to cope with a deluge of applications.

The move follows changes to the licensing process which some critics say have made it too easy to for people to qualify to drive a taxi - specifically removal of the ‘street knowledge’ section of the application.

Also it is no longer a requirement for a Hackney cab or private hire driver to live in the area where the licence is issued.

another council desperate to get on the gravy train too bad they didn't realise how many applications they'd get

_________________Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

The issuing of new taxi licences in Knowsley as the council struggles to cope with a deluge of applications.

The move follows changes to the licensing process which some critics say have made it too easy to for people to qualify to drive a taxi - specifically removal of the ‘street knowledge’ section of the application.

Also it is no longer a requirement for a Hackney cab or private hire driver to live in the area where the licence is issued.

another council desperate to get on the gravy train too bad they didn't realise how many applications they'd get

They knew.....It's just backfired on JT..

_________________Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

no need any more for these tests anyway, everyone has a sat nav so what's the problem? why are taxi drivers so against the use of sat navs ?? what am i missing ??, if i got in a taxi & said "take me to joe bloggs street mate" & the driver said , "do you know where it is?" , i would say "no", & he said "will just pop it in the sat nav mate", i would just "say fine mate , crack on" , wouldn't have a have a problem at all, i would get there anyway , cant understand the problem , everyone is going on about driverless cars ( things progress after all) but hate taxi lads who use a sat nav?? bit odd if you ask me like

no need any more for these tests anyway, everyone has a sat nav so what's the problem? why are taxi drivers so against the use of sat navs ?? what am i missing ??, if i got in a taxi & said "take me to joe bloggs street mate" & the driver said , "do you know where it is?" , i would say "no", & he said "will just pop it in the sat nav mate", i would just "say fine mate , crack on" , wouldn't have a have a problem at all, i would get there anyway , cant understand the problem , everyone is going on about driverless cars ( things progress after all) but hate taxi lads who use a sat nav?? bit odd if you ask me like

Everyone does not have a sat-nav,my street does not show on a sat-nav.

no need any more for these tests anyway, everyone has a sat nav so what's the problem? why are taxi drivers so against the use of sat navs ?? what am i missing ??, if i got in a taxi & said "take me to joe bloggs street mate" & the driver said , "do you know where it is?" , i would say "no", & he said "will just pop it in the sat nav mate", i would just "say fine mate , crack on" , wouldn't have a have a problem at all, i would get there anyway , cant understand the problem , everyone is going on about driverless cars ( things progress after all) but hate taxi lads who use a sat nav?? bit odd if you ask me like

Everyone does not have a sat-nav,my street does not show on a sat-nav.

most people have a sat nav on their mobile phone, most people have mobile phones, the odd places dont show up on a sat nav on mobile phones, if they dont have a mobile phone ( which i doubt) they can buy a sat nav

post codes can cover quite large areas I remember being told by a customer that tom tom sat navs could find his house but Garmin's took you to a farm 1 mile away ! The tech isn't perfect and people rely too heavily on it

_________________Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

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